The family walked back to the parking lot together, still chatting and laughing.
"Unnie, can I ride with you? I'm tired of being the third wheel," Raquel asked with a mischievous smirk.
Bella chuckled. "Sure, baby. Hop in."
"Drive safely, girls," Vera called as she climbed into Mr. Anderson's car.
"We will, Mum," Bella promised, sliding behind the wheel of Dylla.
For the first few minutes, the car was quiet except for the low hum of the engine. Raquel plugged in her phone and scrolled through music, breaking the silence. Though they weren't used to each other yet, Bella already felt protective of her like the little sister she'd never had.
"Do you... hate me?" Raquel suddenly asked, her voice small.
Bella blinked in surprise and glanced at her before focusing back on the road.
"See? You hate me." Raquel's lips trembled, her eyes glossy with unshed tears.
"Oh my God, baby, no. I don't hate you. I could never hate you," Bella said, her heart squeezing. She quickly pulled over, not wanting a distraction to cause an accident. She reached for Raquel's hands.
"Catty, listen. I love you as much as I love my brothers. Our parents may not be married yet, but you're already my sister."
"Really?" Raquel squealed, relief lighting up her face.
"Yes, baby," Bella smiled. "But you need to understand my job keeps me insanely busy. It'll be even crazier now that I'm officially a flight stewardess. But I'll make time for us. We'll have our girl time."
"Sounds good." Raquel grinned.
"So we're good now?"
"Absolutely."
The next morning, Bella was up before dawn, too excited to sleep. Today, she would collect her Hampson Airways uniform. She applied a touch of makeup, grabbed a quick breakfast she barely touched, and headed downstairs.
"You didn't tell me you were leaving so early," her mum said, descending the stairs.
"Sorry, Mum. Morning." Bella hugged her, kissed her cheek, and took the phone Vera handed her.
"You forgot this."
"You're a lifesaver," Bella laughed, sliding into Dylla.
She turned up her stereo, singing along to Too Faithful by Moses Bliss, her heart bursting with gratitude.
Halfway through the song, her phone rang. It was Liam.
"Bella! I just got a message from Hampson Airways!" he screamed.
Bella screamed back. "No way! Congrats, darling!"
Her celebration was cut short by the blaring of horns around her.
"Drive like a normal person!" someone yelled from another car.
"If you want to die, don't drag us with you!" another shouted.
Bella winced but ignored them, laughing breathlessly into the phone.
"When are you going for your uniform?" she asked Liam.
"Already on my way. I was headed to Zurich Airways before this came in."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously." He laughed.
More horns blared. Bella leaned out the window. "The road is wide enough pass another lane!"
"Go to hell, lady!" a driver snapped.
Bella rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as Liam cracked up on the other end.
By the time she reached Hampson Airways, it was almost eight. The new recruits were told to wait until nine for the director to arrive.
When Bella finally slipped into her new uniform red and grey, perfectly tailored to her curves she felt transformed. She wasn't just Bella Walter anymore. She was a flight attendant.
Her heart swelled with pride as she stood beside Alexia and Liam.
In the conference room, a poised woman with a warm smile stepped forward. "Good morning, everyone. I'm Rose Henshaw, Chief Purser of the cabin crew. And this is my assistant, Ella Parth."
"Good morning," the recruits chorused.
"We're thrilled to welcome you to Hampson Airways," Rose said. "We expect diligence, teamwork, and excellence. You've earned your place here. Make it count."
Applause followed, and Bella exchanged a grin with Alexia and Liam. They had made it.
Together, they toured the offices, then the aircrafts they would soon call their second home. Every detail filled Bella with awe and anticipation.
Her dream was no longer a dream. It was reality.
The warm aroma of spaghetti filled the air as Bella pushed the door open.
"Mum, I'm home," she called.
"Welcome, honey," Vera answered from the kitchen.
Bella bounced in, grinning. "Mum, guess what? Look at this." She pulled out her phone and showed off the selfies she had taken in her new uniform.
Vera's eyes softened as she studied the photos. "Wow. I can't believe my daughter is finally a flight stewardess."
"I can't believe it either." Bella laughed, pride bubbling in her chest.
"I'm proud of you, darling," Vera said, draining the pasta.
"Unnie!" Raquel's voice rang out as she came rushing down the stairs.
"Baby!" Bella exclaimed, sweeping her into a hug. "I didn't know you were coming over."
"Dad's working late, so I asked if I could stay here tonight," Raquel explained, her curls bouncing as she smiled.
"Oh right. Well, come see—look at me in my uniform," Bella said, showing her the same pictures.
Raquel squealed. "Aww, unnie, you look beautiful!"
Bella pouted playfully. "Only in my uniform?"
"You know what I mean! You're always beautiful."
"And you, baby, are stunning," Bella said, pinching her cheek.
Raquel giggled, her smile widening.
"Dinner's ready, girls," Vera called.
Bella sprinted upstairs to change into a black bumshort, a multicoloured crop top, and her favourite emoji slippers. She let her hair fall loose, then returned in under ten minutes. The food was already served.
She grabbed her plate, fork in hand, and tasted the spaghetti before even leaving the kitchen. "Mmm! This is so good!"
"Sit down and eat properly," Vera scolded.
Bella ignored her, carrying her food into the living room. Raquel followed, and soon they were curled up on the sofa, watching Crash Landing on You.
"Unnie," Raquel said suddenly, "is it okay if I post the pictures I took with Mr Hampson on Instagram?"
Bella shrugged. "Why not? If he didn't want his face out there, he wouldn't have posed in the first place."
"I guess so." Raquel hesitated, then leaned closer. "So... what's your relationship with him?"
Bella froze, heat rushing to her cheeks.
"Aha! You're blushing!" Raquel squealed.
"No, I'm not," Bella protested, flustered.
"Yes, you are," Vera chimed in, joining them with her own knowing smile.
Bella fumbled for an escape. "Mum, what about you and Uncle Joe? What are your plans?"
"Don't change the subject," Raquel said.
"I'm not"
"You are," Vera cut in, amused.
Bella sighed in defeat.
"Fine," Vera said. "But if I answer, you answer too."
"Deal," Bella muttered, though she had no intention of confessing everything.
Vera grew thoughtful. "I love Joe. He loves me. But we don't want to rush things, especially since you kids are involved."
"Us? Mum, if you and Dad think we're a problem, you're wrong. I can't wait for unnie and my oppas to officially be my siblings!" Raquel squealed.
"Life is too short, Mum," Bella added firmly. "You only live once. Don't wait too long."
Vera smiled shyly. "I'll talk to Joe."
"Yay!" Bella and Raquel cheered, high-fiving.
"Now, back to you," Vera said, eyes narrowing. "Answer the question."
Bella cleared her throat. "There's nothing between us. Although..." She rubbed the back of her neck. "...we did kiss yesterday."
"What?!" Raquel shrieked.
"Seriously?" Vera's eyes widened.
"Explain everything," Raquel demanded, bouncing in her seat.
"Mum, you gossip too much," Bella said, flustered.
"Gossip? I call it motherly interest," Vera replied dramatically, hand over her chest.
"Do you love him?" Vera asked suddenly.
"What? No!" Bella exclaimed, blushing harder. "I don't love him. But... I don't hate him anymore either. And... he said he likes me."
"Awwww!" Raquel squealed.
"You two are impossible," Bella muttered, pausing the drama on the screen and fleeing with her plate to the kitchen.
"We know you're avoiding us!" Vera shouted after her.
"Whatever, Mum!" Bella called back, rinsing her dish.
Her phone rang from the living room. "Ella, it's an unknown number," Vera called.
"I'm not answering it," Bella replied.
The phone rang again.
"Ella, come pick up your call!"
Bella wiped her hands and walked back. By the time she reached the table, the ringing had stopped — replaced by a text notification.
Can we talk?
"Who's this?" Bella typed.
A reply came instantly.
It's me.
She rolled her eyes. "You who?"
Her phone rang again. She hesitated, then answered.
"Hey, Butterfly."
Her heart skipped. "Chris?"
"Miss me?" His voice was smug.
"How did you even get my number?"
"I have my ways. Don't forget, I'm your boss's boss's boss."
Bella scoffed. "So you stole it."
"Borrowed. Permanently."
"Good to know. That means I can block you."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Is that a threat?"
"Call it... a warning."
Bella smiled sweetly at the phone. "Goodbye, Chris." She ended the call, blocked his number, and deleted it.